johanson



(No Model.)

0. L. W. JOHANSON.

CLIMBING APPARATUS 'No. 428,812. Patented May 27,1890.

A/Wa

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIC'EQ OSSIAN LAURENTIUS W'ILHELM JOHANSON, OFTROLLHATTAN, SWVEDEN.

CLIMBING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,812, dated May 27,1890.

Application filed November 20, 1889. serial No. 331,044. (No model.)Patented in Sweden December 27, 388, 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, OSSIAN LAURENTIUS WILHELM J'OHANSON, a subject of theKing of Sweden, and a resident of Trollhattan, Sweden, have inventedcertain Improvements in Climbing Apparatuses, (for which a patent hasbeen granted in Sweden, No. 1,682, dated December 27, 1888,) of whichthe followingis a specification.

My invention relates to a device or apparatus for enabling a person toclimb a pole, tree, column, rope, or the like, or even the wall or sideof a building if there be a projecting list, strip, or narrow pilasteron the face thereof; and the object of my invention is to provide asimple and inexpensive device for this purpose, which will require nospecial skill or experience on the part of the user,

I and which will be reasonably safe, provided miill iiiiliilliliiliilllllilllllllmllluuwi ordinary care is taken while climbing.

My invention will be fully described hereinafter and its novel featurescarefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 isa general view of aclimbing apparatus embodying my improvements; andFig. 2 is a detail view of a 'part thereof, that will be hereinafterdescribed.

My climbing apparatus is essentially double-that is, it is composed oftwo like parts or sides, one of which is under the control of the righthand and right foot of the climber, and the other of which is undercontrol of his left hand and left foot. Each of these, parts comprises aclamp, which is adapted to be shifted by the hand of the climber, astirrup to receive the foot of the climber, and a connector, preferablyin the form of a rope,

which unites these two elements and enables.

the climber to close the jaws of the clamp by the pressure of his footin the stirrup.

As both sides or parts of the apparatus are precisely alike, I have usedthe same letters of reference in both, and it will only be necessary forme to minutely describe one of these sides or parts.

a represents the clamp, which consists of two pieces pivotally connectedtogether in the manner of ice-tongs. The construction is such that whenthe handles 9 of the clamp are drawn forcibly together or toward eachother the jaws h thereof will also be drawn inward toward one anotherand be made to clamp on a pole a; or the like between them. A rope orother connector I) is secured to one handle of the clamp a and passesover a sheave 0r pulley a, mounted 011 the other handle thereof. Thefree or pendent end of this connector I) is attached to a suitablestirrup c, to receive the foot of the climber.

It will be readily understood that when the jaws of the clamp a are madeto embrace the pole at and the climber inserts his foot in the stirrupand applies his weight the jaws of the clamp will be made to forciblyclasp the pole and cling firmly thereto.

In order to facilitate climbing with a stepby-step movement, first withthe arm and leg on one side of the body and then with the arm and leg onthe other side of the body, alternately, two such devices are employedas that already described, whereby the climber is enabled to supporthimself with one hand i and foot while he is shifting the clampcontrolled by the other hand and foot.

To prevent the stirrups c from swinging too far apart, they will beconnected, preferably, by a short rope or cord d, and the connectors b bwill or maybe united att he proper height by a rope, strap, cord, or thelike e, to

form a sort of sling, that may be made to support the back of theclimber in some degree.

In order to climb with the apparatus, the climber takes the clamps a,one in each hand and places his feet one in each stirrup c. He thenplaces one of the clamps on the pole, list, or other object to beclimbed at a point as high as he can reach, raising the foot on thatside of the body to facilitate this. He then supports his weight in thatstirrup, thus closing the clamp firmly on the pole, and raises himselfthus, so that he may place the other clamp at a still higher point onthe pole.

Ile proceeds thus, raising each clamp alterwhen the weight of theclimber is removed from the stirrup. This is a common device and willrequire no special illustration or description herein.

The stirrup may be constructed in any manner. As herein illustrated, it.is formed of a loop in the rope I), which is properly dis tended by thesole-piece of wood or metal.

The jaws 71. of the clamp are made to project laterally from the :t'aeesof the pieces forming the clamp, in order that they maybe able to graspthe pole or list a, as will be readily understood. The faces of thesejaws, which embrace the pole, list, rope, or the like, may be formed tofit the shape of the same; but this is not at all essential.

In Fig. 2, where the elampct is seen in plan, (at the left,) the jawsare pivotally mounted on the clamp and have parti-eireular grooves intheir faces to fit a rope. The faces of the jaws may be serrated orroughened, as seen in Fig. 1, if desired.

I may also provide the handles g with clamping-jaws h, as seen in Fig.1; but these are not essential to my invention. If employed, these jawswill he so arranged as to clasp the pole or other object sinmlt-ancouslywith the other jaws h.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A climbing apparatusconsisting, of the two clamps a (I, provided with pulleys or sheaves ii, the two connected stirrups e c, and the two connectors I) I), whichunite the respective stirrups with the clamps, each connector I) passingover the sheave t on one handle of the clamp and secured to the otherhandle thereof, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OSSIAN LAUREX'IIUS \VIllIIllliM JOHANSON.

\Vitnesses:

NERE A. ELFWING, ERNST SvANGvIsT.

